Fractal Matter was given red carpet access to the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest World Premiere at Disneyland(and for more pictures from the premiere click here). The Happiest Place on Earth had been turned into a huge pirate bash, complete with performing pirates who entertained the thousands of hot and weary fans that lined the red carpet. Press was held inside the air conditioned Lincoln Theatre, a plush lobby decorated with film posters, treasure chests, pirate booty and an impressive food spread.
A Disney usher led us to our spot on the red carpet. The 1000+ foot long carpet snaked through the park like a ruby river. On one side, a gaggle of press lined the walk; on the other, a crowd of mostly teenage girls, many wearing pirate adorned Mickey Mouse ears that were given out by the park for the event. They stood five thick, entertained by what must have been every juggler, gymnast, musician and stilt walker in Disneyland. All dressed as pirates, the performers led the fans in choruses of the song “Yo ho (A Pirate’s Life)” written by George Bruns for the Disney Attraction in 1967.
Disneyland did what it does best by entertaining the masses to try to make them forget they are in for a long wait under the hot sun.
I wandered across the red divide and spoke to some fans. Teenage sisters Jackie, Jolene, Jessie and their mother came from San Diego. “We’ve been here all day,” said their mother. They’d arrived at 4:30 AM and guarded their front row spot since the park let them in two hours later. I asked who they were here to see, the two generations said in unison, “Johnny Depp.”
Teens Colena and Christina and their mother drove from Mesa, Arizona to snag their space along the red carpet. They were also here to see the man of the hour, Johnny Depp. Not to say that Bloom’s and Knightley’s fans weren’t a show of force in the crowd. Plenty wore shirts and buttons featuring the British stars and all stood ready with autograph pads and cameras. As I looked at the endless sea of fans hopeful to meet the film’s stars, I doubted that even a giant Kraken, if summoned, could pry their hands from their coveted front row spots at the barrier.
As dusk hovered on the horizon, the excitement level rose as the first celebrities made their way down the carpet. Among the screams of fans, I asked Depp’s former 21 Jump Street co-star Holly Robinson-Peete if she was glad to see that the world had finally come to Johnny Depp. Robinson-Peete, along with other co-stars had endured Depp’s open disdain for the show while on the set of Jump Street, and had been the one to confront Depp about his negative behavior. After her tough talk, Depp responded by trashing his trailer.
“I think Johnny kind of came to the world,” Robinson-Peete said, “He loosened up, relaxed, had kids. That will make you [real], keep you from being such the anti-star. I think it’s really great for him. He did it his own way and I think it’s really special. I really give kudos to Disney that they allowed [Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow] to go this way.”
Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken stopped by, accompanied by his family. I asked Ripken, the strikingly blue-eyed author of Play Baseball the Ripken Way, if the Jack Sparrow Way could apply to baseball. Laughing, he said, “I’ve never given it that much thought. I’d have to ponder that one.” Ripken, clearly amused, said he’d be thinking about that one for a long time.
A personal highlight was talking to actress Helen Mirren, who credits much of the first film’s success to Depp, “I think he created such an extraordinary character,” Mirren said, “It was a lot of the success of Pirates, obviously brilliant direction, great story, great special effects. It was that iconic character that he created out of Keith Richards. I heard that Keith is actually going to play his father which would be brilliant. He was so inventive and funny and it was such a brilliant characterization. I’m a huge fan.”
When asked about Depp’s co-stars Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, Mirren said, “Everyone is so beautifully cast. Keira was wonderful as a strong and feisty heroine and Orlando is a beautiful boy, then really strong actors playing the baddies. It’s a hugely entertaining film and I hear this one is great. Hopefully there will be another one after that.”
Pat Riley, fresh from leading the Miami Heat to become the 2006 NBA Champions, fielded sports questions with ease but when asked what makes Depp the biggest movie star in the world, had to ask for help from his teenage daughter. A little shocked at being thrust into the spotlight, she kept her analysis short. “Everything,” she said.
Vincent D’Onofrio, star of Law and Order: Criminal Intent also had high praises for Depp, “To look as handsome as Johnny and pull off character work isn’t an easy thing to do.”
When I asked him how he’d question Jack Sparrow in the interrogation room, he said, “I’d take his ship.”
Naomie Harris, one of the few female characters in the film, plays lustful voodoo clairvoyant Tia Dalma. I asked her what it was like to work with such a predominantly male cast.
“It’s great actually,” she said, “I’d recommend it to more women because men are really fun to be around. They spend most of their time telling jokes and having a laugh. I really enjoyed it.”
I asked Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård if he had to think a while before accepting the role of Bootstrap Bill, the storied father of Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom. He said, “I considered it for awhile, but then saw the first film was a character driven blockbuster. When I met Gore Verbinski and he explained what he wanted to do with it I was convinced because he’s so interested in what the actors are doing which you can see in the film. You see a lot of the actors are having fun and getting a lot of space in the films.”
Kevin McNally, still sporting the fuller brush sideburns his character Gibbs fashions in the new movie, answered a few questions.
FM: What it was like to act against Depp’s over the top caricature and still hold your own?
McNally: I suppose I was in the first [film] a little intimidated by just loving Johnny’s work so much and seeing that he’s got this really big character. But now on the second film I just relished going into work and doing scenes with him. We worked most days together. And I just love to see what he’s going to throw at me.
FM: Literally. (McNally’s character Gibbs was reintroduced in the first Pirates by getting a bucket of water thrown on him.)
McNally: (laughs) Yes.
FM: Was there a lot physicality in the role?
McNally: Yeah, and in Pirates Two it’s even more energetic and action filled than the first one. So we all got involved [in the action sequences] where we weren’t involved in the first film.
After that, I found myself face to squid with the shuddersome Davy Jones. Okay, it wasn’t Davy Jones. Luckily for me, it was affable actor Bill Nighy who brings the sea villain and summoner of Krakens to life in the film. I asked him what it was like to act knowing most of his face would be special effects.
Nighy said, “I knew exactly what the creature was and had been shown pictures of [it], and I knew what it entailed. It was quite interesting because you had to remember stuff like you’ve got a squid growing out of your chin and you can’t get too close to people because they start getting involved, or that one leg is a crab leg and you’ve got to remember how that works. There was a whole new world of technical problems but it was interesting and fun.”
When I asked if he had seen the film yet, Nighy said, “I haven’t seen all of it. I’ve saved it for tonight because you know they’re going to screen it above the lake. I figured it’s Disneyland and it’s the big night and I didn’t want to spoil it, and everyone will be there so I figured I’d save it for now.”
Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook, who play funny pirate duo Pintel and Ragetti, came down the line. Arenberg gave me a cryptic answer when I asked them how they come back into the fold. “We were cursed yeah, but it’s very interesting how we come back.”
When asked what they do in Pirates Two, Crook said, “We’re pretty much the same, our job isn’t to further the plot. We’re just there for the comic relief.”
Someone asked the two what they do that’s funny in the film, and Crook said, “My eyeball pops out again.”
Arenberg said, “I try to be nice to him,” indicating Crook. “It’s very difficult to do.”
On what kind of direction they got from Gore Verbinski, Crook said, “He trusts us, but he does direct us as well. It depends.”
Arenberg said, “A lot of time it will just be a look that we have to give. We pretty much know what those are. But then if it’s a physical bit then he’ll get into it and we’ll work it out to make sure it works.”
Soon after, screams from the teenage girls roared. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Kiera Knightley were making their way down the red carpet, making the fans forget about being hot, fatigued and thirsty better than any performing pirate could. I saw Knightley, ethereal in a white dress calmly signing autographs fan side.
Though it was edging past 9:00PM, the time the screening was supposed to start, Disney ushers told us we’d get one question with each of the three main stars. This was great, having not expected that due to the sheer size of the premiere and volume of press. However, a mutiny was occurring up the red carpet that would call for a drastic course change. I looked toward my right. Knightley had disappeared, and Orlando Bloom was frantically working his way from fan side to press side between a sea of men in black, publicists and others. Something seemed off, chaotic. I wondered how they were going to manage this. I got my answer when the black suits closed ranks around the three stars and ushered them down the red carpet full speed ahead. Depp, shorter than the 5’11 Bloom, was enveloped and invisible. Fans screamed as the group sped by like a case shot fired from a canon. In their wake, stunned Disney ushers and press tried to piece together what had just occurred.
Apparently, a few scallywags from the press had jumped the barrier in panic that they weren’t going to get an interview with the three stars and set off a chain reaction. Those of us down wind who were waiting patiently, paid as a result. I looked across the red carpet at the fans, some in tears who had waited so long to get a glimpse of oh Captain, their Captain Jack Sparrow, the dashing Orlando Bloom, or the beautiful Keira Knightley. I was heartbroken for them.
Later, we learned that Depp had been late due to spending time with five Make a Wish families and spent a couple hours signing autographs up the line.
As for the fans, they can say that they’ve been to a red carpet premiere and have a story to tell their friends when they got back. And girls, if any of you want to say that Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom picked you out of the crowd, walked over, kissed your hand and said, “I now know what it is like to have lived,” I’ll back you up.
And, there is always next time at the Pirates Three premiere.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest opens July 7th in US theaters and July 6th in the UK. For more on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest visit the official site for multi player games and more.
For more pictures from the premiere please view the gallery
All Pictures Copyrighted 2006 Shannon Treglia & FractalMatter.com - Ask for permission to use by emailing submissions@fractalmatter.com
- Anne Hefley just finished her second season as a researcher in the writer's office for the HBO Original Series, "The Wire." Anne is a freelance copywriter who frequently works for Buzztone on lots of cool projects, including Bono's joinred.com. For over ten years she worked in an online editorial capacity for Fox, Disney, Fox Family Channel, etc, to promote their entertainment properties. Anne has written for "Inside Stunts" magazine and co-wrote the glossary for the Simon and Shuster book "The Wire: Truth Be Told." - anne@fractalmatter.com